’Don’t ignore Kurds’
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Gül Demir - Niki Gamm
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 07, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The Kurds cannot be left out of the equation. The Kurds are like the mortar among the peoples of the Middle East. The Kurds are a very important partner in the Middle East, says Osman Baydemir, the mayor of Diyarbakır who is from the pro-Kurdish Democratic Society Party.
The U.S. president would be well advised to keep in mind that Kurds in general and the Kurdish population in Turkey particularly should not be forgotten in any peace effort in the Middle East, according to Diyarbakır Mayor Osman Baydemir.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Baydemir, who won a second term in office in the March 29 local elections, said: "It shouldn’t be forgotten that there are more than 20 million Kurds living in Turkey. And when Turkey enters the EU, there will be a population of 70 million entering, including the Kurds.
"The Kurds can’t be left out of the equation. The Kurds are like the mortar among the people of the Middle East. The Kurds are a very important partner in the Middle East." The mayor, who first came to prominence earlier this decade as one of the young lawyers defending the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, said Turkey was one of the most sensitive and important countries in the Middle East. "I am hoping and wishing that this visit will contribute to peace in the future in the Middle East," he said.
He said U.S. President Barack Obama should be aware of the historical heritage of Southeast Turkey. "The town of Hasankeyf has a history that goes back 12,000 years and is one of the rarest places of human history. It should not be forgotten that 33 civilizations have left their mark on Diyarbakır," he said.
When the construction of the Ilısu Dam is completed, the town of Hasankeyf in the southeastern province of Batman will be submerged under water. He said Kurds could be the key to regional peace and stability. "The Kurds know Armenian, Persian, Arabic and Turkish. In terms of the cultural interaction of the peoples of the Middle East, they are a really important factor. I don’t think that a point of view that considers the Kurds as zero will be able to provide peace in the Middle East," said Baydemir. The Middle East is a very sensitive region, he said, adding that it also has a serious need for peace and stability. "My wish for it and this visit is that it will contribute to Middle Eastern peace and offer an opportunity to confront real problems," he said, adding people of the region need to work jointly and any effort should not ignore the Kurds.
Speaking to the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Baydemir, who won a second term in office in the March 29 local elections, said: "It shouldn’t be forgotten that there are more than 20 million Kurds living in Turkey. And when Turkey enters the EU, there will be a population of 70 million entering, including the Kurds.
"The Kurds can’t be left out of the equation. The Kurds are like the mortar among the people of the Middle East. The Kurds are a very important partner in the Middle East." The mayor, who first came to prominence earlier this decade as one of the young lawyers defending the jailed leader of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party, or PKK, said Turkey was one of the most sensitive and important countries in the Middle East. "I am hoping and wishing that this visit will contribute to peace in the future in the Middle East," he said.
He said U.S. President Barack Obama should be aware of the historical heritage of Southeast Turkey. "The town of Hasankeyf has a history that goes back 12,000 years and is one of the rarest places of human history. It should not be forgotten that 33 civilizations have left their mark on Diyarbakır," he said.
When the construction of the Ilısu Dam is completed, the town of Hasankeyf in the southeastern province of Batman will be submerged under water. He said Kurds could be the key to regional peace and stability. "The Kurds know Armenian, Persian, Arabic and Turkish. In terms of the cultural interaction of the peoples of the Middle East, they are a really important factor. I don’t think that a point of view that considers the Kurds as zero will be able to provide peace in the Middle East," said Baydemir. The Middle East is a very sensitive region, he said, adding that it also has a serious need for peace and stability. "My wish for it and this visit is that it will contribute to Middle Eastern peace and offer an opportunity to confront real problems," he said, adding people of the region need to work jointly and any effort should not ignore the Kurds.